It's great to have you back, Eric. I find it sad that junkyards crush their vehicles so quickly, with less access to the 'pic a part' theme of an older generation. In the old days that part would have been easy to find.
I worked in the parts department at a Toyota dealership and it's extremely common for those intermediate shafts to go on Tacomas, 4Runners, and some Tundras.
Thanks Eric, I just had this happen on my 03 with over 200k on it, for now lubing that joint did the trick, but the long run will eventually catch up....
2005 4-runner in the shop with the same issues 211K miles. Started with steering pump (not it). Now they are onto the lower steering shaft coupler but having a hard time getting it off. Will let you know and thanks for sharing. Had them check out the rag joint as well because of your video. Also helps me justify hiring someone to deal with this one. Thanks!
Thanks for the video. The problem im having is the mechanic that replaced my rack didnt align the steering wheel and put together it backwards. Not taking it back since he took several months to replace the rack.
You live in a rough weather area! 140k and rust and corrosion everywhere. Wow. I sometimes take it for granted living in Phoenix that none of this occurs here.
Doing the same thing on my 08 4Runner. Skid plate bolts rusted solid. All the bolts on the shaft were rusted solid. Other than that, not too bad. This is a great video with some good tips, thanks!
This was very helpful. My 2004 4 Runner had the same exact symptoms. I found this video and took a look at that U joint. When I looked at it and it was not as rusted as the one in the video, so I didn't think it was the issue and I didn't want to have to take it apart if it was not the problem. So I sprayed some wd45 all over that U joint then turned the steering wheel back and forth. Once the WD 45 worked into the U Joint the symptoms went away. The symptoms returned after driving it a little because how thin the WD45 is. So I put a bunch of bearing grease in and around the U Joint and the symptoms went away again. I my case the grease in the U joint should give me a little more time to get the part with the U joint replaced.
I have had an intermittent problem for months on my Fj. Nobody can find out why the steering is tight and wont recover after taking corners, then it may go away for a day or two. I'm going to go check this shaft out today. I hope this is the problem!!
Eric, I just wanted to say thanks for the awesome videos that you make,great work.I too have a 04' 4runner with rack and pinion issues.Mine is a wander and semi-stiff steering. The rack bushings are shot and am definitely gonna check out the steering u-joints. My 4runner has 165,000 and runs great, but this steering issue is driving me nuts.A thousand thanks.
I replaced the rack and pinion bushings and it made a world of difference. Play is all gone,steering wheel no longer has the sawing motion. The best I could tell the shaft and u-joint seemed ok. Still need to do lower control arm bushings,ball joints,sway bar bushings and links.Getting her ready for the next 170k miles.Hope this helps.I used polyurethane bushings.
I know it didn't happen to Eric, but this a classic example for customer to blame the tech. Steering was "worked on" by mechanic and now its broken again. This can damage a shop's reputation through no fault of their own. I'm really glad Eric had the video of him checking the u-joint before.
Had the same problem last year with my 01' durango. There was a slight play in the steering wheel. Followed it down to the intermediate shaft and seen that the u-joint was damn need rusted through. Im actually surprised it didnt break whenever i turned the wheel. Got a new one on ebay for a lil over $80 which wasn't too bad. Installed and turns real nice now
How stoned were you in this one eric? Lol your eyes look red as hell, haha great video though as usual! Always very informative, not too many vids on the racks, thanks buddy!
Have an 04 here in Michigan with 291000 miles, intermediate shaft froze up due to rust about a year and half ago. Took my air chisel and rattled the u-joint which shocked off a great deal of rust, lubed with penetrating oil and followed with a high pressure seeping grease. Spray every oil change and has been good thus far and steers like new. Will see how long this lasts, not sure what effect the grease and lube will have long term on the rubber boots.
first off, that air hammer is sweet, I think ill be going out to buy one! and second, thanks alot! I thought the rack on my 96 Camry was on its way out, but sprayed U joints with WD40 drove a couple miles and it was much better, sprayed it again, and it was again much better, Ill just keep it lubricated till I have time to replace, but this saved me a huge amount of time!! thanks!
Not turning the key all the way off reminded me of this. Toyotas, Hondas, and really a lot of imports do not engage the steering lock until the key is removed. Any column that makes a significant "clunk" when you remove the key is made this way. That clunk is the mechanism releasing the locking bolt.
05 Taco 240,K Mi just started steering freeze. Gotta a recall for the Propeller Shaft...will have them replace this while it's there. Thanks for heads up Eric!
Excellent video!! I have an '02 Tundra torn apart in the driveway with steering issues that sound exactly like what you are dealing with here.. I've been chasing this problem for WEEKS now.. It feels like turning the wheel SHOULD have some co0mponent rocking back and forth, but so far NOTHING! Out of desperation, I stripped off most of the components on the drivers side, inside and out, to get to the intermediate shaft. It's old and ugly, but doesn't seem to have excessive play in it.. Nevertheless, tomorrow it's coming out so I can get a good look at it! If it's bad I'm not sure what I'll do.. Not real keen on spending $750 on a new intermediate shaft when the truck is barely worth $2000.. 😂
+Mark M (MMA) A stitch in time, excellent suggestion. Customers hate comebacks and for a few extra bucks you can avoid many problems down the line. It's money well spent.
Very common failure on all Toyota's. Almost EVERY steering issue related to binding is the intermediate shaft. It should be loose and flop around with zero resistance when they're good. Any resistance means it's bad.
They have updated high pressure hoses now with a muffler on them to alleviate that issue. If you have noisy ford power steering from those model years, try swapping out the pressure hose with a new one with the integrated muffler.
All GMC trucks exhibit nearly the same problem. They start out by having a small thunk coming from the front end when hitting bumps and progressively worse! I have had three GMC half tones and I replaced the intermediate shaft in all of them! You can buy an aftermarket one with Greece zirks which solvers the problem or drill the top of the knuckle and install zirks on a new factory one!
Of course, you are right. Also take in mind that a well made model of lets say toyota, the corolla that has been on the market for quite some time has less possibility to develop a common problem than a newbie model, and that is normal, the Porsche 911 almost didnt change in 40 years, thus making it almost perfect in every way because it has been ever so slightly better from year after year. Im not a porsche fan boy btw haha
Hi Eric, Out here in new zealand we used to have a similar problem with the YH50/LH50 series Toyota Hiaces. the joint was exposed just below the grill panel on the front van. there was never a problem with the upper one as its protected inside the van.
I have a sequoia with 418,000 miles on it 2003 limited 2wd that I think has all original suspension pieces. Struts front and back need replacing but everything else on the whole underside of the car is completely rust free. North Carolina where their is not snow but maybe 10 times in its life. In saying that toyota should not be allowed to sale cars in the north in the us. They rust so damn bad and seriously make the car dangerous
eric sometimes the trouble is the bearing in the steering column, in the tilt part of the column(a pain to repair by the way), most folks get a used one instead of trying to replace the bearing, nice repair--
If the steering wheel is off a little bit or too much. you don't need to fix it by alignment or crawl under it to re-adjust the threads. Just make your tires straight and remove your steering wheel and put it back on straight.
+Kamran Khan You know how the clock springs work right? There are holes in the steering wheel that let the wires through and line up with the clock spring. It won't line up when you turn your wheel on the shaft. You CAN adjust it a little but really all you're doing is covering up the problem. If your car needs an alignment, that's all there is to it.
Incorrect, you have to slide the intermediate shaft off of the rack again and reposition it because you didn't line it up correctly to begin with. If you don't know what you're talking about, don't give advice.
***** I am not giving you an advice. You are just talking out of your ass. I have repositioned many cars' steering wheels instead of the bullshit you are talking about. You don't know what you are talking about anyway.
thanks Eric for this full and detailed video.. i had a leak in the steering gear box and went to a shop and they fixed it by installing the repair kit from toyota which i believe has the seals and what not.. But then had to take the car to an alignment shop where they found that the steering wheel was way off and they had to take the steering wheel off and correct it's position and then correct the alighment since the car was leaning to the right side.. is the above procedures correct?
Thanks for this video, Las saturday I did it on my 06 4Runnner SR5, but the worst part for me was the long bolt that hold the rack & pinion on the driver side, thanks!
I hate dealer only parts... when you buy them they think it's gold or something and charge way to much.... Of course they figure that if you want your vehicle you'll pay the price!!!! Glad you got it fixed Eric!!!! Merrie-Merrie
When I saw your video on the rack job I could not get over how much rust was under that truck, seriously, does the owner ford a river on his way to work and back home every day? I am spoiled by living in So Cal for sure, but damn that Toy is a rust BUCKET! Great channel.
I think I'm imagining things but it looks like you slightly changed you YT screen name a wee bit. Before your vacation it was EricTheCarGuy and now it seems to be all in lower case, ericthecarguy. Interesting video btw.
Every time I change my power steering fluid I laugh at all the poor saps who neglect it and have to replace a rack or pump. Leading cause of these failing is NEGLECT. Because a $7 bottle of ATF or ps fluid is just too much money.... 🙄😂 Strong 💪🏻 work Eric. Enjoy your Channel
hi eric some correction fluid ran along the gaps where the fasteners go, before you take it apart. help to get everything back to where you took it off from, hope that makes sense
Eric, great video as always. I'm having an issue with a creaking metal sagging noise when I steer my truck. I've notcied the noise is most noticeable on my outter CV joint closest to the wheel on the drivers side. Bad CV axle assembly? Truck has 44k miles used as a work truck. Powersteering fluid is fine, haven't noticed any steering bind, but likes to pull right. Again noise on drivers side CV, when turning left. Any info appreciated!
Chripse.. nobody likes come-backs... But at least you had video evidence of how you inspected it before replacing the rack. And I've got an IR Air hammer that looks just like that and it's AWESOME
@aydinburton93 If you have a Jeep chances are (I could be wrong) it doesn't use a power steering rack, but rather is what is found on typical rear-wheel drive vehicles for steering - which is a system of arms (idler, pitman) that then move a center joint that holds the inner tie rod ends, that then go out to the outer tie rod ends. Completely different system. I would take it to an alignment shop and have them align the wheels, since that is what the problem basically is. Hope this helps!
Good video. Thanks for all your hard work to put these videos together. What kind of camera do you use? it has nice quality. I have a 2002 Honda Odyssey, kind of like the one you have? The steering wheel shakes ever so slightly when you turn it. It seems to be fine when you are on the straight away. Could it be something loose, like a joint in the steering rack assembly?
Hi Eric , I have been a follower of your great videos for more than two years now and I have been buying tools on ebay for some time. also i have been repairing my cars since 1977. I haven't read all other comments so it is possible that my comment already exists. I find it rather stupid of toyota to leave a u joint in a critical part as the steering exposed to weather, mud, splash and salt. It should be protected by a rubber boot like any other part of the steering system. What do you think ? i hope that by now you have resolved the issues regarding your moving out of the the factory and found a new good place. Kind Regards Frank in Sydney Australia
I have the same problem on my 2007 Tacoma. I thought it was the pump because the pump did have a leak. I replaced the pump and the problem lessened but still remained. I guess the added pressure from the new pump masked the problem somewhat. I sprayed the steering knuckle with PB Blaster and the the stiff steering problem went away for about 3 days but came back. I guess I'll be replacing the knuckle.
hey eric, love ur vids. i got a quick question. why does my steering grind when I turn? I recently took the truck off a "jump" with 3 other guys in it. got some air, but ever since then its just grindy when I turn. It is a 2007 Chevy Tahoe LTZ complete stock steering/suspension,
@tk0145 I think its clear that Eric checked that component when he replaced the rack a year to the date this vehicle returned to the shop. Perhaps you missed that in the video? I don't think he would have overlooked that when replacing such an expensive part.
intermediate shaft is paint in the a-- to pull out. What I did is use a piece of metal insert in the open slot of u joint, then tie 12mm bolt front the thread side, it push the metal piece, open the slot and slide out easy.
oh! thank you! cause my ford mustang with 105k miles on it sounds the same way as i turn the steering wheel all the way, i'm just worried i thought i have issues in my steering pump coz my toyota rav4 does not do that and i tried my friends 1999 mitsubishi eclipse with 115k miles doesnt make any squeaky noise like that.
@halleffect1 well to be honest my garage floor doesn't have one drop of oil after 6-7 years. I have no idea where it is all going. Either burning up or what I think is it's caking up on all the engine
Thanks so much. I have a 92 Celica that has stiffness. I had put the car on jack stands. Stiffness originally felt periodic like a u joint prblm. I tried fluid clean/flush which cleared problem for 1-2 days. Stiffness came back worse. Am thinking rack replacement but will check u joint(s). Question: How can I positively eliminate the pump as the problem?
Erick , thanks for the videos, ..I have a problem with my 4runner 2003 4.7, abs, ...there is a squeze on the abs unit , I already checked relays, scanned, no codes by the way, ..no lights on my dash...the yaw sensor is fine, ..the sound the abs unit is doing is making me crazy...Lol....thanks dude!...let me know if you ever come to Costa Rica..
Moral of the story, when you replace the steering rack also replace the intermediate shaft. Would it kill you to clean off the splines and put a little grease on them to keep out water? I go crazy watching you put badly rusted parts and fasteners back onto vehicles.
@aydinburton93 Hey no problem, and like I said I could be mistaken on the setup under there but usually with rear-wheel drive vehicles (trucks included unless they are AWD to my knowledge) usually have that setup I described to you. Either way you would be better off taking it to an alignment shop. The tie rod ends would be the same as if in Eric's video either way, but you're still shooting in the dark unless you have an alignment rack; some things are best left to the pros!
Eric, i'll bet that was an expensive part-- my 96 Jeep GC doesn't have rust like that on any front end parts as i have changed them all including the steering box-- So much for Toyota perfection huh?
Holy rusty 4runner, batman. Do they dump road salt like it's going out of style over there? I live on an island in Alaska and 4runners of similar vintage haven't started developing rust on the frame and underhood components like that unless the vehicle has been launching boats or something.
hi mr.eric im from philippines im one of your fan..,,,, ive got 2009 honda city and I've problem on my electronic power steering.... (EPS) i already replace EPS module the problem was when i turning the steering wheel on right side it was lil bit hard.. when i turning on left side position its smooth normal turn... what do you think is the problem sir?... isn't the (torque sensor) got problem?
I've got a 2005 Tundra with 535,000 miles and the only problem I've had with the power steering is the high pressure lines rusted out, $ 500.00 for the lines. $80.00 for the pump.
It was likely bad before, you just didn't see the rust etc. Removing it and reinstalling it and hitting it with an air hammer likely "disturbed" it enough to fail shortly after.
Eric, I feel you should have cleaned off the rust on the old part first and given it a lick of paint. It won't be long now, before the rust spreads to the brand new linkage part. But that's just me.
I had this issue on my 4runner, it was a nightmare to remove and replace this part. I am pretty sure that this issue was a recal on the lexus gx470, but not for the 4runner, shame.
my focus makes a clicking sound seems to come from somewhere round where those joints are,i will try and spray some oil on them first see if smtg changes..thnks for this video i'm sure it will help me
Eric quick question.. My tacoma seems to not have a straight steering wheel. I have gotten it aligned about 6 months ago and steering wheel was straight. Slowly it gets to the point where my wheel isnt straight. When I take my hands off the wheel on the high way my truck tracks dead straight and doesn't pull either way. That means my alignment is good right? But perhaps problem with something else? Not sure why alignment would go bad. Have a cracked leaf in rear would that effect it?
I have a 2003 v8 4.7 4runner i personally just replaced the motor and transmission myself in my front yard. What a nightmare. But runs like a dream now. Has 330k miles with a low mileage (114k) mile motor n trans. My problem is my power steering. All hoses are on. Its full of fluid. No leaking fluid. No noise. Pully is turning fine. There is no power steering.. its so dang hard to turn. Is there any vacuum hoses or something im missing ??
hey mate, jjust watching this video because it came up on my homepage since im subscribed but it made me wonder, ive got a 95 cherokee sport and my steering wheel sits off center even though the cars front wheels are straight, if i take of that bar you installed and then reinstalled it how you have (lining up the front tires and the steering wheel) will it fix the the off center sterring wheel? cheers
It's great to have you back, Eric. I find it sad that junkyards crush their vehicles so quickly, with less access to the 'pic a part' theme of an older generation. In the old days that part would have been easy to find.
I was a Mechanic all my life and I think your a really good mechanic. I wish you were in Pa..
I worked in the parts department at a Toyota dealership and it's extremely common for those intermediate shafts to go on Tacomas, 4Runners, and some Tundras.
Is this a Toyota Recall?
Stephen Maurer To my knowledge it was never a recall, just a commom problem with Tacomas, 4Runners, and Tundras.
What about LC120?
I had this problem and today I just greased this joints and now is working like a charm :)
Common, but at what point do they die? Like 100k? 150k?
you should have soaked with Pblaster a couple of times before greasing it
Thanks Eric, I just had this happen on my 03 with over 200k on it, for now lubing that joint did the trick, but the long run will eventually catch up....
2005 4-runner in the shop with the same issues 211K miles. Started with steering pump (not it). Now they are onto the lower steering shaft coupler but having a hard time getting it off. Will let you know and thanks for sharing. Had them check out the rag joint as well because of your video. Also helps me justify hiring someone to deal with this one. Thanks!
Your honesty is what its all about.
Thanks!
Hope we have you here in the philippines!
Proud 1994 4runner Owner here!
Thanks for the video. The problem im having is the mechanic that replaced my rack didnt align the steering wheel and put together it backwards. Not taking it back since he took several months to replace the rack.
You live in a rough weather area! 140k and rust and corrosion everywhere. Wow. I sometimes take it for granted living in Phoenix that none of this occurs here.
Doing the same thing on my 08 4Runner. Skid plate bolts rusted solid. All the bolts on the shaft were rusted solid. Other than that, not too bad. This is a great video with some good tips, thanks!
This was very helpful. My 2004 4 Runner had the same exact symptoms. I found this video and took a look at that U joint. When I looked at it and it was not as rusted as the one in the video, so I didn't think it was the issue and I didn't want to have to take it apart if it was not the problem. So I sprayed some wd45 all over that U joint then turned the steering wheel back and forth. Once the WD 45 worked into the U Joint the symptoms went away. The symptoms returned after driving it a little because how thin the WD45 is. So I put a bunch of bearing grease in and around the U Joint and the symptoms went away again. I my case the grease in the U joint should give me a little more time to get the part with the U joint replaced.
I have had an intermittent problem for months on my Fj. Nobody can find out why the steering is tight and wont recover after taking corners, then it may go away for a day or two. I'm going to go check this shaft out today. I hope this is the problem!!
How'd it go
Eric, I just wanted to say thanks for the awesome videos that you make,great work.I too have a 04' 4runner with rack and pinion issues.Mine is a wander and semi-stiff steering. The rack bushings are shot and am definitely gonna check out the steering u-joints. My 4runner has 165,000 and runs great, but this steering issue is driving me nuts.A thousand thanks.
ROCK DIESEL Was the intermediate shaft the problem?
I replaced the rack and pinion bushings and it made a world of difference. Play is all gone,steering wheel no longer has the sawing motion. The best I could tell the shaft and u-joint seemed ok. Still need to do lower control arm bushings,ball joints,sway bar bushings and links.Getting her ready for the next 170k miles.Hope this helps.I used polyurethane bushings.
I know it didn't happen to Eric, but this a classic example for customer to blame the tech.
Steering was "worked on" by mechanic and now its broken again.
This can damage a shop's reputation through no fault of their own.
I'm really glad Eric had the video of him checking the u-joint before.
Eric you are the real car guy. Thanks bro you are helping the masses.
Had the same problem last year with my 01' durango. There was a slight play in the steering wheel. Followed it down to the intermediate shaft and seen that the u-joint was damn need rusted through. Im actually surprised it didnt break whenever i turned the wheel. Got a new one on ebay for a lil over $80 which wasn't too bad. Installed and turns real nice now
Sweet! Good to see these videos back again.
Big Love Eric! Your videos bring me such joy
Appreciate the difficult camera shots just to show us. Good job!!
Now I know what to do with my 2004 Toyota 4Runner. You're the man Eric. Thanks.
How stoned were you in this one eric? Lol your eyes look red as hell, haha great video though as usual! Always very informative, not too many vids on the racks, thanks buddy!
😂
He only looked like he was bored a bit
I wish Eric lived near me so I can take my vehicle to him! Getting harder to find guys like him who do their jobs with a passion.
Have an 04 here in Michigan with 291000 miles, intermediate shaft froze up due to rust about a year and half ago. Took my air chisel and rattled the u-joint which shocked off a great deal of rust, lubed with penetrating oil and followed with a high pressure seeping grease. Spray every oil change and has been good thus far and steers like new. Will see how long this lasts, not sure what effect the grease and lube will have long term on the rubber boots.
first off, that air hammer is sweet, I think ill be going out to buy one! and second, thanks alot! I thought the rack on my 96 Camry was on its way out, but sprayed U joints with WD40 drove a couple miles and it was much better, sprayed it again, and it was again much better, Ill just keep it lubricated till I have time to replace, but this saved me a huge amount of time!! thanks!
Not turning the key all the way off reminded me of this. Toyotas, Hondas, and really a lot of imports do not engage the steering lock until the key is removed. Any column that makes a significant "clunk" when you remove the key is made this way. That clunk is the mechanism releasing the locking bolt.
05 Taco 240,K Mi just started steering freeze. Gotta a recall for the Propeller Shaft...will have them replace this while it's there. Thanks for heads up Eric!
Excellent video!! I have an '02 Tundra torn apart in the driveway with steering issues that sound exactly like what you are dealing with here.. I've been chasing this problem for WEEKS now.. It feels like turning the wheel SHOULD have some co0mponent rocking back and forth, but so far NOTHING! Out of desperation, I stripped off most of the components on the drivers side, inside and out, to get to the intermediate shaft. It's old and ugly, but doesn't seem to have excessive play in it.. Nevertheless, tomorrow it's coming out so I can get a good look at it! If it's bad I'm not sure what I'll do.. Not real keen on spending $750 on a new intermediate shaft when the truck is barely worth $2000.. 😂
Just a fast bit of advice.
When you order your new rack order a new high pressure line. Replace all hose clamps.
+Mark M (MMA) A stitch in time, excellent suggestion. Customers hate comebacks and for a few extra bucks you can avoid many problems down the line. It's money well spent.
Very common failure on all Toyota's. Almost EVERY steering issue related to binding is the intermediate shaft. It should be loose and flop around with zero resistance when they're good. Any resistance means it's bad.
They have updated high pressure hoses now with a muffler on them to alleviate that issue. If you have noisy ford power steering from those model years, try swapping out the pressure hose with a new one with the integrated muffler.
All GMC trucks exhibit nearly the same problem. They start out by having a small thunk coming from the front end when hitting bumps and progressively worse! I have had three GMC half tones and I replaced the intermediate shaft in all of them! You can buy an aftermarket one with Greece zirks which solvers the problem or drill the top of the knuckle and install zirks on a new factory one!
Of course, you are right. Also take in mind that a well made model of lets say toyota, the corolla that has been on the market for quite some time has less possibility to develop a common problem than a newbie model, and that is normal, the Porsche 911 almost didnt change in 40 years, thus making it almost perfect in every way because it has been ever so slightly better from year after year. Im not a porsche fan boy btw haha
Hi Eric, Out here in new zealand we used to have a similar problem with the YH50/LH50 series Toyota Hiaces. the joint was exposed just below the grill panel on the front van. there was never a problem with the upper one as its protected inside the van.
I got a 3rd gen Tacoma that has this potential issue. Gonna see if this is the fix. Thanks ETCG.
I like these long videos. It has all the details!
I have a sequoia with 418,000 miles on it 2003 limited 2wd that I think has all original suspension pieces. Struts front and back need replacing but everything else on the whole underside of the car is completely rust free. North Carolina where their is not snow but maybe 10 times in its life. In saying that toyota should not be allowed to sale cars in the north in the us. They rust so damn bad and seriously make the car dangerous
Holy crap! 418k miles. That is insane. I have a 2014 Sequoia at 89k miles. I hope mine last me that long.
eric sometimes the trouble is the bearing in the steering column, in the tilt part of the column(a pain to repair by the way), most folks get a used one instead of trying to replace the bearing, nice repair--
Thanks for the reply (: turned out to be the tire, a belt broke on it, I got another tire to put on it yesterday, runs perfect now
If the steering wheel is off a little bit or too much. you don't need to fix it by alignment or crawl under it to re-adjust the threads. Just make your tires straight and remove your steering wheel and put it back on straight.
+Kamran Khan You know how the clock springs work right? There are holes in the steering wheel that let the wires through and line up with the clock spring. It won't line up when you turn your wheel on the shaft. You CAN adjust it a little but really all you're doing is covering up the problem. If your car needs an alignment, that's all there is to it.
Incorrect, you have to slide the intermediate shaft off of the rack again and reposition it because you didn't line it up correctly to begin with. If you don't know what you're talking about, don't give advice.
***** I am not giving you an advice. You are just talking out of your ass. I have repositioned many cars' steering wheels instead of the bullshit you are talking about. You don't know what you are talking about anyway.
Kamran Khan 10
thanks Eric for this full and detailed video.. i had a leak in the steering gear box and went to a shop and they fixed it by installing the repair kit from toyota which i believe has the seals and what not.. But then had to take the car to an alignment shop where they found that the steering wheel was way off and they had to take the steering wheel off and correct it's position and then correct the alighment since the car was leaning to the right side.. is the above procedures correct?
Thanks for this video, Las saturday I did it on my 06 4Runnner SR5, but the worst part for me was the long bolt that hold the rack & pinion on the driver side, thanks!
My 2005 had this BAD. Sprayed it down with white lithium grease and it's been good to go for about 40k miles. 212K and counting!
I hate dealer only parts... when you buy them they think it's gold or something and
charge way to much.... Of course they figure that if you want your vehicle you'll pay the price!!!!
Glad you got it fixed Eric!!!!
Merrie-Merrie
When I saw your video on the rack job I could not get over how much rust was under that truck, seriously, does the owner ford a river on his way to work and back home every day? I am spoiled by living in So Cal for sure, but damn that Toy is a rust BUCKET!
Great channel.
froggy this is in Ohio where salt is spread on roads like it is on McDs fries. It does a number on cars.
Had the same problem on a 89 nissan. Everybody at the shop thought the rack was bad too until I pulled that shaft off.
just was watching kail muscle good tips on getting more buff in drugs just hard work
I think I'm imagining things but it looks like you slightly changed you YT screen name a wee bit. Before your vacation it was EricTheCarGuy and now it seems to be all in lower case, ericthecarguy. Interesting video btw.
Looks like that rig has seen a bit of salt in its time.
Every time I change my power steering fluid I laugh at all the poor saps who neglect it and have to replace a rack or pump. Leading cause of these failing is NEGLECT. Because a $7 bottle of ATF or ps fluid is just too much money.... 🙄😂
Strong 💪🏻 work Eric. Enjoy your Channel
Wrap the seat belt through the steering wheel and move the seat all the way back. Steering wheel will then be locked in place. Nice vid.
hi eric some correction fluid ran along the gaps where the fasteners go, before you take it apart. help to get everything back to where you took it off from, hope that makes sense
Eric, great video as always. I'm having an issue with a creaking metal sagging noise when I steer my truck. I've notcied the noise is most noticeable on my outter CV joint closest to the wheel on the drivers side. Bad CV axle assembly? Truck has 44k miles used as a work truck. Powersteering fluid is fine, haven't noticed any steering bind, but likes to pull right. Again noise on drivers side CV, when turning left. Any info appreciated!
Chripse.. nobody likes come-backs... But at least you had video evidence of how you inspected it before replacing the rack. And I've got an IR Air hammer that looks just like that and it's AWESOME
@aydinburton93 If you have a Jeep chances are (I could be wrong) it doesn't use a power steering rack, but rather is what is found on typical rear-wheel drive vehicles for steering - which is a system of arms (idler, pitman) that then move a center joint that holds the inner tie rod ends, that then go out to the outer tie rod ends. Completely different system. I would take it to an alignment shop and have them align the wheels, since that is what the problem basically is. Hope this helps!
2008 4runner has the same problem and your right toyota is very proud of their parts
Good video. Thanks for all your hard work to put these videos together. What kind of camera do you use? it has nice quality. I have a 2002 Honda Odyssey, kind of like the one you have? The steering wheel shakes ever so slightly when you turn it. It seems to be fine when you are on the straight away. Could it be something loose, like a joint in the steering rack assembly?
Hi Eric , I have been a follower of your great videos for more than two years now and I have been buying tools on ebay for some time. also i have been repairing my cars since 1977. I haven't read all other comments so it is possible that my comment already exists. I find it rather stupid of toyota to leave a u joint in a critical part as the steering exposed to weather, mud, splash and salt. It should be protected by a rubber boot like any other part of the steering system. What do you think ? i hope that by now you have resolved the issues regarding your moving out of the the factory and found a new good place. Kind Regards Frank in Sydney Australia
I have the same problem on my 2007 Tacoma. I thought it was the pump because the pump did have a leak. I replaced the pump and the problem lessened but still remained. I guess the added pressure from the new pump masked the problem somewhat. I sprayed the steering knuckle with PB Blaster and the the stiff steering problem went away for about 3 days but came back. I guess I'll be replacing the knuckle.
Thank you for the video! What's the part number of the part that you replaced here? I'm assuming it will fit all 4th gen 4runners?
hey eric, love ur vids. i got a quick question. why does my steering grind when I turn? I recently took the truck off a "jump" with 3 other guys in it. got some air, but ever since then its just grindy when I turn. It is a 2007 Chevy Tahoe LTZ complete stock steering/suspension,
@tk0145 I think its clear that Eric checked that component when he replaced the rack a year to the date this vehicle returned to the shop. Perhaps you missed that in the video? I don't think he would have overlooked that when replacing such an expensive part.
intermediate shaft is paint in the a-- to pull out. What I did is use a piece of metal insert in the open slot of u joint, then tie 12mm bolt front the thread side, it push the metal piece, open the slot and slide out easy.
thx Mr.Eric. iam a big fun of yours.i really like ur videos.pls do a video on power steering fluid flush thank u
Thank you Eric for another great video!
oh! thank you! cause my ford mustang with 105k miles on it sounds the same way as i turn the steering wheel all the way, i'm just worried i thought i have issues in my steering pump coz my toyota rav4 does not do that and i tried my friends 1999 mitsubishi eclipse with 115k miles doesnt make any squeaky noise like that.
you got my vote eric did you win.
As you remove the splined shaft mark the splines on rack shaft with a punch in ref to the split so when you reinstall you'll have marks..
@halleffect1 well to be honest my garage floor doesn't have one drop of oil after 6-7 years. I have no idea where it is all going. Either burning up or what I think is it's caking up on all the engine
Very helpful. Thanks for posting.
Thanks so much. I have a 92 Celica that has stiffness. I had put the car on jack stands. Stiffness originally felt periodic like a u joint prblm. I tried fluid clean/flush which cleared problem for 1-2 days. Stiffness came back worse. Am thinking rack replacement but will check u joint(s). Question: How can I positively eliminate the pump as the problem?
Erick , thanks for the videos, ..I have a problem with my 4runner 2003 4.7, abs, ...there is a squeze on the abs unit , I already checked relays, scanned, no codes by the way, ..no lights on my dash...the yaw sensor is fine, ..the sound the abs unit is doing is making me crazy...Lol....thanks dude!...let me know if you ever come to Costa Rica..
i love what you do for me, toyota. camrys love those too
It was the shaft on mine too. All fixed!
not trying to bring a thread back from the dead but what was the part number?
Moral of the story, when you replace the steering rack also replace the intermediate shaft.
Would it kill you to clean off the splines and put a little grease on them to keep out water? I go crazy watching you put badly rusted parts and fasteners back onto vehicles.
I was going to say the same thing. Wire brush, wipe it down with some grease or something!
The rubber disc in the steering is what we call in my BMW 2002 Community as a guibo :) Just funky old German terms for ya!
@aydinburton93 Hey no problem, and like I said I could be mistaken on the setup under there but usually with rear-wheel drive vehicles (trucks included unless they are AWD to my knowledge) usually have that setup I described to you. Either way you would be better off taking it to an alignment shop. The tie rod ends would be the same as if in Eric's video either way, but you're still shooting in the dark unless you have an alignment rack; some things are best left to the pros!
Great update video eric
Eric, i'll bet that was an expensive part-- my 96 Jeep GC doesn't have rust like that on any front end parts as i have changed them all including the steering box-- So much for Toyota perfection huh?
Very informative and well described video!
@7:30 theres supposed to be a rubber mud guard in there to protect it and its clearly ripped. No wonder why that part was so rusted.
Holy rusty 4runner, batman. Do they dump road salt like it's going out of style over there? I live on an island in Alaska and 4runners of similar vintage haven't started developing rust on the frame and underhood components like that unless the vehicle has been launching boats or something.
AKJeeper what island you live on? I lived in Anchorage
hi mr.eric im from philippines im one of your fan..,,,, ive got 2009 honda city and I've problem on my electronic power steering.... (EPS) i already replace EPS module the problem was when i turning the steering wheel on right side it was lil bit hard.. when i turning on left side position its smooth normal turn... what do you think is the problem sir?... isn't the (torque sensor) got problem?
The u joint inside the truck don't really fail because they don't get weathered like the other one at the rack does.
I've got a 2005 Tundra with 535,000 miles and the only problem I've had with the power steering is the high pressure lines rusted out, $ 500.00 for the lines. $80.00 for the pump.
Odd question, but do you ever link the customers the video just so they can see how the job was done/if it was done properly?
It was likely bad before, you just didn't see the rust etc. Removing it and reinstalling it and hitting it with an air hammer likely "disturbed" it enough to fail shortly after.
How do you feel about having to do work like this? Even though it was not your fault that it had this problem. You worked on the steering last year.
Eric, I feel you should have cleaned off the rust on the old part first and given it a lick of paint. It won't be long now, before the rust spreads to the brand new linkage part. But that's just me.
Is that the collapsible part? Why isn't that joint greased a bit? That would make it stay rust free for longer periods of time. Wouldn't it?
I actually had one of those, exact same problem. It loosened up for me and it came back the next day...
I had this issue on my 4runner, it was a nightmare to remove and replace this part. I am pretty sure that this issue was a recal on the lexus gx470, but not for the 4runner, shame.
Hey Eric it's been a while I need my fix on your videos,, I'm a addict so give me something OK LOL miss your stuff!
my focus makes a clicking sound seems to come from somewhere round where those joints are,i will try and spray some oil on them first see if smtg changes..thnks for this video i'm sure it will help me
SUPERB INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO. DEVASTATING RUST ISSUES.
Eric quick question.. My tacoma seems to not have a straight steering wheel. I have gotten it aligned about 6 months ago and steering wheel was straight. Slowly it gets to the point where my wheel isnt straight. When I take my hands off the wheel on the high way my truck tracks dead straight and doesn't pull either way. That means my alignment is good right? But perhaps problem with something else? Not sure why alignment would go bad. Have a cracked leaf in rear would that effect it?
Thanks Eric great video.
I had to replace my last week. It took me 1hr 30mins cause the damn shaft was rusted out. Dealer part only
great video sir. good thing you got that before it came apart.... that sounds like a lawsuit lol
I have a 2003 v8 4.7 4runner i personally just replaced the motor and transmission myself in my front yard. What a nightmare. But runs like a dream now. Has 330k miles with a low mileage (114k) mile motor n trans. My problem is my power steering. All hoses are on. Its full of fluid. No leaking fluid. No noise. Pully is turning fine. There is no power steering.. its so dang hard to turn. Is there any vacuum hoses or something im missing ??
hey mate, jjust watching this video because it came up on my homepage since im subscribed but it made me wonder, ive got a 95 cherokee sport and my steering wheel sits off center even though the cars front wheels are straight, if i take of that bar you installed and then reinstalled it how you have (lining up the front tires and the steering wheel) will it fix the the off center sterring wheel? cheers